The advantages to ecommerce are numerous. Companies and businesses can work and perform sales within the limits of working hours. The customers can be reached via their personal pages in social networks and turn to account those people who are not inclined to waste their time; they prefer resting on the sofa with a bottle of beer to monkeying around in the overcrowded store. But together with all these pros, there appear lots of cons – threats of e commerce – which can destroy completely your reputation of your company or your brand. By participating in e commerce, you receive information of high importance and personal details of your customers, who trust you in the matters of information safety and security. This trust is valued, and in case it is violated, expect for decreasing sales online and good reputation to be ruined. Enterprises and companies have to know about the following security threats of e commerce we are going to talk about below, and be ready to implement some preventive or protective measures ASAP.

Types and sources of threats to e commerce security

Security is a condition in which there is no possibility of causing damage to the needs and interests of the subjects of relations.

The threat (in general) is defined as an immediate danger that is of a general, potential nature, but since the contradictions between the subjects of relations arise constantly, then the danger to interests can exist constantly.

One of the adopted definitions is the following: the threat to security is a combination of conditions and factors that create a danger to vital interests, that is, threats are represented by a certain set of circumstances and factors.

If we look at it from the law point of view, the concept of “threat” is defined as the intention to inflict harm (damage).

Thus, a security threat can be referred to as “an activity that is considered to be hostile to interests”.

So, here are security threats of e commerce we would like to describe in this article:

- Malware or scumware

- Phishing

- Known vulnerabilities

- Human error

- Stolen data aggregation

Scumware, in general, or malware in particular is always in the lists’ top, as soon as it is about security threats to e business. It is the main problematic point for the majority of companies, and is to be considered in good earnest. Malware can be hidden and concealed somewhere in the computing system background, and can collect and pilfer personal information of the customers without any restraint. It can result in the following: you may be forced to pay lots of money. You’d better install complex software in order to make your clients and your business feel safe and secure: be sure it will be your best investment that you have ever made.

Phishing – well, here you are allowed to make associations with “fishing”, as the process is metaphorically the same. Just to exemplify it: a simple e-mail address, innocent and seeming-not-to-threaten. But one should be careful with such innocence: this email is possible to quickly turn into a virus of Trojan horse, which can disable all systems of security and get access to confidential information of all kinds. Of course, there exist a number of ways, which can help prevent this – like domain emails usage, TEA Software services or reliable firewalls – but one should always keep in mind this threat of e commerce security. Never doubt cyber criminals’ “efficiency” in their work, as you may never suspect those phishing emails. If your employees are properly trained, they won’t be able to be fooled.

Known vulnerabilities – is one of the threats of e commerce. As you may already know, lots of companies use software of open-source type when providing security for them. It is reasonable from the business point of view and, as a rule, such services can provide your company with a proper protection; however, some particular risks do exist. In case you use such type of software, you are a potential victim for hackers; they may find out security system vulnerabilities and you will be attacked on a regular basis. Especially, if one doesn’t perform the regular software update. The same is about cloud services – they are quite a weak spot and defenseless; if cloud service is not secure, it is frequently attacked and private information is under a huge threat.

Human error at first was not considered to be such a huge threat to e commerce security. Nevertheless, there were and still are present human error patterns, which may become the cause of significant security threats in e commerce. If any office worker, for instance, or an employee accidentally loses his device (smartphone or laptop), and if that device was used for getting accession to unprotected information, whoever finds or steals the laptop or the smartphone can get the complete access to that data and use it for his own sometimes malicious purposes. This may have huge and bad consequences for business; that is why ensure that all databases is secure and there is no fre access for employees’ personal devices.

Stolen data aggregation – there is a trend that most companies follow: all the clients’ data is stored in a central location that other businesses may use as well. But many professionals believe that such way of storing private information works for cyber criminals. Consequently, it’s vital to involve all servers into secure data storing. Some may say that such investment is quite inexpensive, but agree – it’s much better option in comparison with repeated experience of being cyber-attacked.

Cyber-crime is up and doing, and each day becomes an increasing threat of e commerce for most companies and business. Knowing potential threats, which were mentioned above, and having all tools to prevent and protect them can help you to save your brand’s reputation and keep your profit safe. Investment into security is the best solution you can make for proper development and efficient work of your ecommerce business.